Scientific Explanation By BMKG About Lightning That Strikes Mandalika Circuit

Lightning strikes at the Mandalika Circuit before the MotoGP race is held/Screenshot via Instagram motogp

JAKARTA - The occurrence of lightning that struck the Mandalika Circuit during the MotoGP event on Sunday, March 20, was in the spotlight. Shortly before the race was held, it rained and lightning struck the circuit track to spark fire in an instant.

The lightning was caught on camera broadcast on television around the world. In fact, the official MotoGP Instagram account also shared a video of the lightning strike.

There is an explanation from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) for this phenomenon. Miming Saepudin, Coordinator of the BMKG Weather Prediction and Early Warning Division, initially explained that the rain at the Mandalika Circuit was measured towards noon and became more significant in the afternoon towards the afternoon.

Miming said that the rain clouds that formed over the Mandalika Circuit at that time were of the type of Cumulonimbus clouds. Cumulonimbus clouds have the potential to be accompanied by lightning, especially in the circuit area which is an open field.

"When Cumulonimbus clouds then rain, you must always be aware of the potential for lightning, especially for open areas such as fields, rice fields, and the like. The potential for lightning is very high if there are Cumulonimbus clouds," said Miming to VOI, Monday, March 21.

Then, what about the sparks that appear right on the surface of the circuit track? Miming said it was actually a natural thing. Lightning has a high-voltage electric current.

So, when it hits an object, in this case, the surface of a MotoGP circuit, the release of lightning energy will be able to generate heat and cause a fire.

"That's a natural thing when lightning strikes an object on the earth's surface because the temperature of the lightning strike is very hot from the lightning itself," said Miming.